Honors colleges - worth it for some schools?
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Anonymous
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I know my DD isn't the only one getting emails to apply to honors and they go to thousands of people, but is it negative to ignore them if she doesn't want to do the essays or it's not her top choice? I assume no but checking. The two schools are for Univ South Carolina and Tennessee.
I want her to apply because why not, but she's still finishing other apps (RD) and can barely get those done so it seems unlikely. Does it hurt or help chances of acceptance just into the regular pool? |
Anonymous
| South Carolina honors is next level. Very, very competitive. Also a lot of work. I don’t think it will increase odds of regular admission. They do them separately. |
Anonymous
Yes, check with the schools, but for most schools it is separate from regular admissions. |
Anonymous
| DS is in one. Nice to have the separate LLC accommodations filled with like-minded academic peers within a much large university. Dedicated initial advisors. Provided a base group of friends week one. Aside from courses, special outings, speakers, events. Completing the extra app, essays, and questions shows one's commitment to the school at some level. |
Anonymous
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Only if the college is your top choice to begin with, and the Honors College gives you a ready-made cohort/community. But don't turn down another school the kid prefers for an Honors College elsewhere... unless it's in-state and money is an issue. |
Anonymous
Me again. Honors is truly for whatever benefit you can get for those 4 years. After that it's worthless. No recruiter is going to notice. What they see is the name of the university. |
Anonymous
| My kid is ignoring the emails to apply to honors colleges. She is just too burnt out right now to do more essays and those ones are long and often 2-3 additional essays. I wish she would do one as I do think it makes a difference at those schools in terms of class registration but it is what it is. |
Anonymous
Does the honors college obviate the need to join a Greek organization to have a social life at South Carolina? Do the frat gods and sorority queens look down on the honors college kids as nerds and losers? |
Anonymous
| Worth it for South Carolina. Don't know about Tennessee. For DD and for myself, didn't want to be in Honors at our large state universities, two other/different ones. Op, I'd leave this to her, while still encouraging. |
Anonymous
| I really appreciate the schools where you check the box for consideration and then wait for them to tell you whether or not you need more. Mine did do essays for 2 HCs at safeties b/c that could be an incentive to go there. They aren't doing it for one target that has a TON of essays b/c it's just not worth it, at least until the RD apps are done. |
Anonymous
DP. SC's is legitimately the best. The academic opportunity, faculty/staff support and student community are top flight. Go visit and schedule an appointment with honors. |
Anonymous
| UGA Honors is also an option |
Anonymous
That one I am just hoping she gets in "normal" so didn't want to push our luck |
Anonymous
They say they will let you know. You don’t have your write essays, just check a box. |
Anonymous
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There are some exceptions - USC being one of them. Recruiters definitely know that the USC honors college is "different" and holds cache.
From what I have heard from recent grads it is worth doing the honors college as a freshman and sophomore since you get priority admissions/ have smaller class sizes/have an initial acquaintance group. I know many who dropped the honors after that since they did not think the extra work was worth it for junior year/senior year. |